Rathealy Ringfort facts for kids
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Ráth Éalaigh
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 Location in Ireland
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| Alternative name | Stuaic of Rathealy |
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| Location | Rathealy, Tullaroan, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Region | Nore Valley |
| Coordinates | 52°41′41″N 7°25′57″W / 52.694722°N 7.432500°W |
| Altitude | 247 m (810 ft) |
| Type | ringfort |
| Area | 0.8 ha (2.0 acres) |
| Diameter | 99 m (325 ft) |
| Height | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| History | |
| Builder | Síol Elaigh |
| Material | earth |
| Founded | 6th–12th century |
| Periods | Early Christian Ireland |
| Associated with | Gaelic Irish |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Rathealy |
| Reference no. | 376 |
Rathealy Ringfort is an ancient circular fort made of earth. It is also known as a rath. This special site is located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is protected as a National Monument because of its historical importance.
Exploring Rathealy Ringfort
Rathealy Ringfort sits on top of a hill. It is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) north of a town called Tullaroan. From this high spot, people living there long ago would have had a great view of the area. This helped them see anyone approaching.
The Story of Rathealy
This ringfort was built a very long time ago, between the 6th and 12th centuries. This time is known as Early Christian Ireland. Ringforts were like fortified farms where families lived and kept their animals safe.
The name "Rathealy" might come from a king named Élothach mac Fáelchon. He was a ruler of the Uí Cheinnselaig people in South Leinster.
The fort has a strong surrounding wall that is about 3 meters (10 feet) high. There is also a deep ditch around it, about 6 meters (20 feet) deep. These features helped protect the people and their belongings inside.
Rathealy Ringfort is also called the Stuaic of Rathealy. Stuaic is an Irish word that means "peak" or "spike." This name probably refers to its high, noticeable location on the hilltop. There is even a tall standing stone nearby. This stone might be even older than the ringfort itself, possibly from before Christianity came to Ireland.
What Rathealy Ringfort Looks Like
Rathealy Ringfort is a special type of rath called a "trivallate" rath. This means it has three rings of walls and ditches for protection. Inside the fort, you can still see the clear outlines of where buildings once stood. There was a rectangular house and a circular house. There is also a visible entrance to a souterrain. A souterrain is an underground passage or chamber. These were often used for storage or as a hiding place during attacks.
